DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0232Z June 26, 2006.
South central Canada and north central U.S.: The numerous and persistent fires near (and just south of) Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan and northeastern Alberta continue to produce a very large area of moderate to dense smoke that is generally drifting towards the southeast. The smoke plume covers most of northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the western third of Ontario and Hudson Bay. The plume also covered a good portion of the north central United States from North Dakota/Minnesota south to Kansas and Missouri. Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico: The large wildfire near the Kaibab National Forest of northern Coconino county continues to burn this evening. Widespread cloud cover over the southern two-thirds of Arizona has prevented a detailed smoke analysis this evening but satellite does suggest that a moderately dense smoke plume covers most of northwest Arizona. Several large wildfires have developed/intensified this evening over Washington county in southwest Utah. A fire near Zion National Park was producing a very dense smoke plume that was drifting south into northwest Arizona while a second fire near Gunlock State Park was producing a less well defined but still noteworthy smoke plume that was also drifting south into northwest Arizona. Further to the east in northern New Mexico, a wild fire continues to burn near the Rio Arriba and Sandoval county border. A smoke plume was evident with this fire earlier today but widespread cloud cover this evening made detection of smoke difficult. Hanna